Supermarine Spitfire Vc

by Bob Whaites

images by Pieter Stroethoff

Tamiya's 1/48 scale Spitfire Vb Tropical is available online from Squadron.com

Here is my Supermarine Spitfire Vc, which was flown by the great Australian ace, Group Captain Clive Caldwell.

The kit is a Tamiya 1/48 scale Tamiya Vb Tropical. The conversion to the "C" configured wing is an early creation of Jules Bringuier's Aviation Products, conversion No. RC-002.

I did quite a bit of detailing on this model including an instrument panel using Waldron instruments and bezels, scratchbuilt gunsight, True Details harness and buckles, guns from brass rod, making and fitting a deHavilland spinner and propeller blades, opened the exhaust ports, removed and repositioned rudder and elevators, fitted the rudder actuating ram and fitted True Details replacement wheels.

Paints were Gunze with a top coat of Aeromaster Satin to depict the semi-gloss finish that most Australian ground crews tried to apply using wax. This finish helped attain a bit more speed against the enemy.

The decals are set no. V4805 from Ventura, and depict a Spitfire Vc, serial number BS234 with codes CR C, representing the initials of Wing Commander Caldwell.

Click on the thumbnails below to view larger images: